Police said 149 Grand Ave. has been a focus of an investigation into the sale of cocaine, crack-cocaine, heroin and illegal pharmaceuticals for the past several months.

Friday's raid was the last step in the investigation, which has already netted 18 felony arrests for drug dealing, police said

Advertisement

The only felony charge in Friday's raid is leveled against Robert L. Durr, 44, of Grand Avenue, who is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. If convicted, he could face up to nine years in prison.

Durr is also charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, misdemeanors.

Also charged in the raid were:

o James L. Long, 59, of Grand Avenue, who faces two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors.

o John R. Bates, 44, of Grand Avenue, David Wood, 47, of Congress Street, and Shabazz R. Felton, 21, of New Jersey Avenue in Brooklyn, who are charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Bates and Felton are also charged with possession of marijuana, a violation.

o Barry C. Phalen, 59, of Bay Street in Glens Falls, who is charged with attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

The raid included K-9 units, a state police helicopter, a Special Operations team in full gear and an armored vehicle.

It was the seventh raid in an drug investigation that dates back to December. Not including Friday's raid, police had seized 245 bags of heroin, 4-1/2 ounces of cocaine, two ounces of crack-cocaine and three pounds of marijuana, as well as hydrocodone, oxycodone, suboxone (similar to methadone) and liquid PCP worth between $30,000 and $40,000 on the street.

Law enforcement officials had also broken up a tangentially related prostitution ring, Saratoga Springs Police Lt. John Catone said in March.